Filtered tobacco pipe

ABSTRACT

A filtered tobacco pipe is provided with a bowl, a stem and a filter chamber and heat exchanger connecting the bowl and the stem. The filter chamber and heat exchanger is made of aluminum and provided with fins to efficiently cool the hot smoke and condense the moisture therein. The filter chamber itself is provided with a tapered bore and adapted to be easily filled with tobacco which absorbs the smoke condensates. An irregular spheroid is placed over the opening to the stem in the tapered end of the filter chamber to prevent the filter material from plugging the opening.

United States Patent Owens June 13, 1972 [54] FILTERED TOBACCO PIPE Appl. No.: 43,424

2,628,622 2/1953 Smith ..131/194 2,963,024 12/1960 Lichtstern et a1. 1 3 1/207 X 2,654,370 10/1953 Smith ....131/l94 X 809,325 l/1906 Probyn ..131/207 X Primary Eraminer-Joseph S. Reich AttorneyLowe and King [57] ABSTRACT A filtered tobacco pipe is provided with a bowl, a stem and a filter chamber and heat exchanger connecting the bowl and the stem. The filter chamber and heat exchanger is made of aluminum and provided with fins to efficiently cool the hot smoke and condense the moisture therein. The filter chamber itself is provided with a tapered bore and adapted to be easily filled with tobacco which absorbs the smoke condensates. An irregular spheroid is placed over the opening to the stem in the tapered end of the filter chamber to prevent the filter material from plugging the opening.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to smoking pipes, and more particularly to a filtered tobacco pipe having a filter chamber and heat exchanger adapted to be filled with tobacco as the filter material.

2. Description of the Prior Art Filtered tobacco pipes are known whereina filter chamber is adapted to be provided with tobacco as the filter material. A principle advantage of this type of pipe is that the smoker always has fresh filter handy and can change the filter as often as desired. Known pipes of this type have not become popular with smokers, however, because changing the tobacco is a messy procedure. First, the filter chamber is generally quite small making it difficult for one to place tobacco in the chamber with his fingers. Second, the openings and passageways from the chamber become clogged with filter material and have to be cleanedtoo often.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a filtered tobacco pipe of the type that uses tobacco as the filter material wherein the filter material may be easily changed .by the smoker using his fingers without the necessity of frequently cleaning the openings and passageways from the filter chamber.

It is another object of this invention to provide a smoking pipe of the class described that promotes efficient cooling of the smoke drawn from the bowl thereby condensing moisture in the smoke which is then absorbed by the tobacco filter material giving the smoker an unusually clean, pleasant smoke.

According to the present invention, the foregoingand other objects are attained by providing a tobacco pipe having the usual bowl and stem with a filter chamber and heat exchanger connecting the bowl and stem. The filter chamber and heat exchanger is made of aluminum and provided with fins to efficiently cool the hot smoke and condense the moisture therein. The filter chamber is large compared to the stem facilitating the changing of the tobacco filter material. The filter chamber is tapered at the stem end and has a single opening leading to the stem passageway at the apex of the taper. An irregular substantially spherical shaped object is placed over the opening prior to filling the chamber with tobacco. This spherical shaped object prevents the filter material from plugging the opening but at the same time allows free flow of smoke into the stem passageway. Typically, the object may be a clean pebble and has the advantage of providing an additional heat sink to better promote the cooling of the hot smoke.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, aspects, uses and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the filtered tobacco pipe according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal configuration of the filter chamber and heat exchanger of the pipe shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts in the two figures, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the filtered tobacco pipe according to the invention comprises three principle parts: a bowl I, a stem or bit 2, and a filter chamber and heat exchanger 3 connecting the stem 2 to the bowl 1. As may be appreciated from this view, the pipe presents a rather conventional appearance on the outside, its distinguishing features tension of the stem 2 and, as such, is just a little larger in diameter than the stems of conventional pipes. The filter chamber and heat exchanger 3 is made of aluminum and this also distinguishes it in appearance from most conventional pipes. The forward part 4 of the filter chamber and heat exchanger 3 is knurled on the outside for easy holding when unscrewing from the bowl 1. The rearward part 5 is provided with fins which, together with the knurling on the forward part 4, aids in cooling the smoke.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bowl 1 is provided with a male screw 6 to which the filter chamber and heat exchanger 3 is threadably attached at thefilter chamber end thereof. The filter chamber and heat exchanger 3 is also provided with a female connection 7 to which the stem 2 may be permanently desired. The forward end 4 of the filter chamber and heat exchanger 3 is a large filter chamber which communicates by way of passageway 8 in bowl 1 with the bowl. At the opposite end, the filter chamber terminates in a tapered bore 9 having an opening 10 at its apex. Opening 10 communicates with the passagewayll of stem 2. A small (compared to the chamber) substantially spherical but irregular shaped object 12 is placed over the opening 10. Object 12 may be, for example, a clean pebble.

The filter chamber is large enough in diameter to be easily filled with tobacco. It is about five-eighths inch in diameter and about 1 inch long. This length is sufficient as a longer length tends to let the smoke get stale. The filter chamber is filled about two thirds full to allow a little room for the tobacco to swell as it absorbs the smoke condensates. The filter material can be changed as often as desired, and the smoker always has fresh filter material handy in his tobacco pouch.

The filter works by two different principles. First, the thin, high heat conductivity aluminum of the filter chamber in conjunction with the fins on the heat exchanger portion is constantly kept cool by contact with the air. This in turn cools the hot smoke drawn in from the smoking chamber of the bowl. Second, since the hot smoke is efficiently cooled by the filter chamber and heat exchanger, the moisture contained in the smoke is condensed immediately and absorbed by the tobacco filter material. Thus, the filter chamber and heat exchanger promotes not only a cool but a clean and pleasant smoke.

Prior to filling the filter chamber with tobacco, a small irregular shaped pebble 12, about one-eighth inch to one-fourth inch in diameter, is placed over the opening 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the filter material is engaged with the upstream or forward, and the side portions of the pebble to maintain the pebble in the downstream end of the tapered bore as shown. This pebble l2 prevents the filter material from entering and plugging the opening 10 and its communicating passageway 11. Because of its irregular shape, however, the smoke is permitted to flow freely around it and into the passageway 11. The pebble is always replaced at each filter refilling, but since the pebble prevents the plugging of opening 10, the refilling is not accompanied by any messy cleaning problems. In addition, the pebble has the added advantage of being a heat sink to further promote the cooling of the smoke drawn into the passageway 11.

It will be apparent that the embodiment shown is only exemplary and that various modifications can: be made in construction and arrangement within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A filtered tobacco filter chamber means pipe comprising a bowl and a stem, a and heat exchanger made of high heat at its apex, the rearward part of said filter chamber means and heat exchanger being provided with cooling fins and having a passageway means therein communicating with said opening, and a small irregularly shaped object compared to said large chamber means placed over said opening in said large diameter chamber means, said filter material being engaged with the side and the forward portions of said object whereby said object is maintained in said tapered bore means to prevent the filter material from plugging said opening and said passageway means while at the same time permitting the smoke to How freely into said opening and passageway means.

2. A filtered tobacco pipe as recited in claim 1 wherein said filter chamber and heat exchanger is madeof aluminum and adapted to be threadably attached to said bowl and the outside surface thereof is knurled to facilitate the removal of said filter chamber and heat exchanger from said bowl to gain access to said large diameter chamber in order to refill the same, said knurled surface further promoting the cooling efiiciency of the filter chamber and heat exchanger.

3. A filtered tobacco pipe as recited in claim 2 wherein said small irregular shaped object is a pebble and additionally acts as a heat sink to further promote the cooling of the smoke as it flows into said opening. 

1. A filtered tobacco pipe comprising a bowl and a stem, a filter chamber means and heat exchanger made of high heat conductivity material connecting the stem to the bowl, the forward part of said filter chamber means and heat exchanger defining an enlarged diameter chamber means compared to said stem, a quantity of tobacco positioned in said chamber means as a filter material, said large diameter filter chamber means terminating in a tapered bore means having an opening at its apex, the rearward part of said filter chamber means and heat exchanger being provided with cooling fins and having a passageway means therein communicating with said opening, and a small irregularly shaped object compared to said large chamber means placed over said opening in said large diameter chamber means, said filter material being engaged with the side and the forward portions of said object whereby said object is maintained in said tapered bore means to prevent the filter material from plugging said opening and said passageway means while at the same time permitting the smoke to flow freely into said opening and passageway means.
 2. A filtered tobacco pipe as recited in claim 1 wherein said filter chamber and heat exchanger is made of aluminum and adapted to be threadably attached to said bowl and the outside surface thereof is knurled to facilitate the removal of said filter chamber and heat exchanger from said bowl to gain access to said large diameter chamber in order to refill the same, said knurled surface further promoting the cooling efficiency of the filter chamber and heat exchanger.
 3. A filtered tobacco pipe as recited in claim 2 wherein said small irregular shaped object is a pebble and additionally acts as a heat sink to further promote the cooling of the smoke as it flows into said opening. 